Apple Valley Man Sentenced to 18 Years In Prison for Sexually Abusing Child

VICTORVILLE – A 55-year-old Apple Valley man was sentenced to 18 years in prison for molesting a child under 14 years of age San Bernardino County District Attorney officials said. Thomas William Elias initially faced five felony counts of Lewd of Lascivious Acts with a Child and one count of Possession or Control of Child Pornography. Elias, a career criminal was arrested at his Apple Valley home in February 2016, and May 2017, after over a year in jail pursuant to a plea bargain he pleaded no contest to two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Acts with a Child and admitted to two connected felony enhancements. For the two charges, on June 29, 2017, at the Victorville Superior Court, he was sentenced to a total of 18 years to be served at the California Department of Corrections in Chino.

Elias was credited with 588 days of time served which includes conduct credit; 512 actual time plus 15% for good behavior. The remainder of his sentence will be served at the same rate of conduct credit, leaving Elias with approximately 14 years to serve.